One of mine and my sister’s pet hates is people saying they’re bored.
There is nothing worse than logging onto msn, or signing in on Myspace to have someone message you, or post a bulletin about the fact that they’re bored & have nothing to do!
In my world there is always something to be done.
In fact, in anyone’s world there is always something to be done.
Even if it’s taking the dog for a walk for the umpteenth time, reading a trashy magazine, or baking cakes, there is always a cure for boredom.

Having said this of course I can appreciate why some people find it difficult to amuse themselves, especially if whilst growing up they have had pushy parents who have forced them to take part in every possible activity going- the new thing I hear is fencing! I mean fencing! Come on…what happened to a good old game of footie down the park!?
This is part of the problem, I feel, that children & young people are becoming increasingly demanding…no longer is it sufficient to allow your children to amuse themselves by taking them to the nearest local park…everything has to be planned & structured! Now where’s the fun in that, I ask?

Two of the most productive months of my life were spent qualifying in Play work- something that I was only able to do whilst volunteering at one of the local Junior Clubs in Watford. It changed my whole perception of activities for children & young people…it was a case of put out some equipment, arts & crafts materials, and toys…and let them get on with it! Let them use their imaginations! Part of a child’s development I’m not convinced lessons in fencing would allow.
This idea seems to have seeped into my perception of Youth Work as well…the thing I feel most passionately about. Government legislation is constantly pushing for intended outcomes- something that unfortunately Youth Workers are no longer able to dismiss. I, however, have vowed that whilst I will respect Government initiatives, after all they’re in place for a reason, I will not let this stand in the way of delivering activities that allow for the greatest personal development.

When the Lib Dems decided to vote in favour of closing Watford Area Youth Service last Summer- something which I campaigned passionately against- it saw the end of an era in many ways. It saw the closure of what I would argue were traditional youth clubs, where young people were able to go in the evening if they were bored- to have a game of pool, table tennis, or just chat to their Youth Workers.
Without these sorts of facilities in place, at present (something I hope to see change in the up & coming months) maybe on reflection it is possible to say that there is a reason for young people expressing boredom.

Maybe me & my sister, who has just told me that this blog is totally ambiguous, need to look at the potential reasons for young people expressing boredom…perhaps this is my initial way of doing so…
A pushy generation of parents imposing structured activities on children, which only lapse once they reach their teens, the increasingly demanding nature of children & young people (I’m not saying they don’t have a right to be demanding- I‘m all for it, within reason!) and the lack of activities for young people to engage in, all appear to provide viable explanations for people feeling under stimulated.